Body image has had a major influence in today’s general media. Different types of sources have been displayed both online and offline. For example, pictures have been posted, blogs have been viewed, websites have been created, newspaper and magazine articles have been read and television shows have been produced. Body image is described as how you see yourself, how you think others see you and how you feel about the way you look. It is influenced by many things including appearance, size, gender, skin, culture, build, weight, etc.
In today’s world, body image can lead to a positive influence, but also can cause a negative image, influenced by both individual and environmental factors. The main reason why many people are conscious of how they look is mainly related to media. As everyone get to their teenage years, the thought of body image starts to grow. Movies, television shows and advertisement have all played a major part. Teenagers have become more aware of celebrities and how they look. They start to compare themselves and start faulting everything about them, including the smallest things.
They also start thinking about the way others see them, which leads to loss in confidence and discouragement. Also in some cases, people see themselves as overweight and ‘fat’ but actually they are underweight! This shows how much body image can dampen and effect people. People also change their everyday routine, because they want to improve the way they look, mainly due to inspiration from media. They starve themselves, throw up the food they eat, do unfamiliar things that they might not be comfortable with, cut/ dye their hair and over work themselves.
If none of these actions make them look or feel better they become more eager to change the way they look. They are just creating more pain for themselves, which in the long run, can make them feel even worse. Nowadays, people don’t choose what they want to wear based on their opinion, instead they first think about how others would see them and choose accordingly! What people don’t realise is that almost all types of media, use tricks and techniques to make their subject look more appealing. All they have to do is click some buttons, flick some switches and their model/subject looks flawless.
They can even change lighting effects and sometimes they even Photoshop images. Do you really think that those ads with miracle changes, show the exact result they really receive after using the product? Advertisements particularly use these gimmicks to hel extra sale and often use high class models, and celebrities to demonstrate their products. Body image can also cause a positive influence. Many people are motivated by inspirational stories and drastic changes other people have experienced.
There amazing results pass on through media (for example Facebook and Instagram), which encourages others to change the way they see themselves, and stimulate them to try to improve on their own image. Weight loss stories are always touching, and inspiring to many people. These stories bring hope to others who think they cannot change their appearance. Instead of looking up to celebrates, these role models are the ones who share their stories and help them create a new path to build on their own road.
When a person is able to respect, appreciate and accept their own body, they achieve a positive body image. These types of images are vital. Positive body images are helpful for people with eating disorders. An eating disorder is characterised by obsessive thoughts about food and body weight. This includes people who limit the amount of food they eat (Anorexia nervosa), eat lots of food in a very short time and then purge (Bulimia) or overeat often (Compulsive overeating). Around 1 million Australians have an eating disorder.
People who suffer are recommended to work on respecting themselves and building up their self-esteem, as well as maintaining a balanced lifestyle (consuming healthy foods and consistent physical exercise). The impact of media on body image has been a major part of today’s society. After stating my points, it is proven that the influence is mainly negative. All us humans, are all lured into comparing ourselves to others and putting ourselves down. Our sense of happiness, values, and self-worth, all of which are defined within self-esteem drop.
We all go through many stages, trying to figure out ways to make ourselves look better, but these actions can be harmful and can cause larger issues. Media is a major cause, firstly, displaying the skinniest and most beautiful models on advertisements, and Photo-shopping and modifying some of their images to attract more customers. Society should be portraying more realistic images of beauty! Having said that, many inspiring body image stories, posted on media, have also changed people’s lives.
The way you think people see you doesn’t show who you really are. Even though we all see ourselves as, ‘ugly, fat, skinny’, we know that everyone has they own personal traits and we shouldn’t be judged based on how other people look. We should all be smiling at our own reflection and be proud of who we are as a person. In conclusion, the influence of media on body image in the general population, is predominantly negative. The media can only take as much control as it is allowed only if given the opportunity to do so